Valley Forge (dec 19, 1777 – jun 19, 1778)

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In December of 1777, General George Washington relocated the Continental Army to their winter quarters at Valley Forge. Washington’s army suffered defeats at Brandywine, Paoli, and Germantown, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia fell into British hands. By the time the army marched into Valley Forge on December 19, they were suffering not only from sickness, hunger, fatigue, but from low morale in the wake of the catastrophic Philadelphia Campaign. Washington described Valley Forge as “a dreary kind of place and uncomfortably provided.” Being only 20 miles from British-invaded Philadelphia, in eastern Pennsylvania, Valley Forge presented a strategic place that allowed Washington’s army to stay close to the city while staying at a place that was accessible to clean water and firewood. However, despite these advantages, Washington’s army was ill-prepared for the encampment that would last 6 months. The army’s supply of basic needs, like food and clothing, would often run out. Diseases ran throughout the camp and the unbearable cold created the infamously miserable conditions at Valley Forge. But through all of these obstacles, Washington’s leadership kept the army intact. News of a French alliance with the Americans came in May, 1778, a few weeks before the army's departure from Valley Forge in June of the same year. Revitalized, reorganized, and uniformly trained, the army would go ahead and display their new skills and discipline at the Battle of Monmouth in June, 1778. Valley Forge was not only for the reshaping of Washington's army, but for the endurance, resilience, and dedicated demonstrated by the Americans in their cause for independence.

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